Resource Centre for Tobacco Free India is an extension of VHAI’s motto of ‘Making Health and Development a Reality for the People of India’. It is a unique initiative to create a one-stop centre for all those seeking information on Tobacco Control in India

Union budget 2015 increases excise duty on cigarettes, but no tax on bidis

New Delhi 28 Feb 2015: In the budget tabled on Saturday, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has proposed an increase in excise duty on cigarettes.

The duty will increase by 25 per cent on cigarettes of length not exceeding 65 mm and by 15 per cent for cigarettes of other lengths, cigars, cheroots and cigarillos. The budget has also raised the excise duty on cut tobacco from Rs 60 per kg to Rs 70 per kg.

Increased taxes mean a win-win situation for the country. Not only will it add to the revenue but also reduce consumption of tobacco and thereby the state’s burden of treatment costs.A globally accepted saying is: "triple the taxes, double the revenue, halve the consumption".
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Over 500 organisations write to PM Modi on pictorial warnings on tobacco packs

19 February 2015:
Over 500 organisations have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly advocating the implementation of new pictorial warnings on all tobacco packs from April 1.

The appeal comes amid demands from tobacco companies for reconsideration of the government order to have pictorial warnings on both sides and covering 85 per cent of the pack.

Representatives of women groups, youth associations, hospitals, self-help groups and voluntary organisations were among those who sent 4000 signed letters to the PM. read more...

Government serious about Amendments to Tobacco Control Law

13 January 2015:
The Union health ministry has signalled its intention to go ahead with its proposals to ban the sale of loose cigarettes and raise the minimum age for tobacco sales to 21 years, disregarding opposition from within and outside the government.

The ministry today released a draft bill that proposes a ban on selling loose cigarettes, seeks to raise the minimum age of tobacco consumption from 18 years and a five-fold increase in the fine for smoking in public places to Rs 1,000.
The ministry said it was making public the draft through its website as part of "pre-legislative consultations" seeking comments from stakeholders as well as the general public. read more...

Punjab is first state to ban sale of loose cigarettes and tobacco

07 January 2015:
The Punjab Health Department has banned the sale of loose cigarettes (as single sticks) and loose tobacco, becoming the first State to do so.

In a notification issued on Tuesday, the State government said the ban had been issued as the sale is in violation of Section 7 of the COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products, Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act, 2003).
Section 7 of COTPA prohibits any trade or commerce in cigarettes or any other tobacco products unless every package of cigarettes or any other tobacco products sold, supplied or distributed carries specified warning including pictorial warning. read more...

Hon’ble Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare leading the World No Tobacco Day Youth Rally Organised by VHAI read more...

India Becomes Global Leader In Pack Warnings On Tobacco Products

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister, on 15th October, 2014 announced the new pictorial health warnings for tobacco products that has made India the Global Leader in Pack Warnings. A notification has been released requiring tobacco manufacturing companies to devote at least 85 percent of the surface areas of all tobacco products on both sides to graphically and literally represent the statutory warning.

Beginning April 1, 2015 every tobacco product will carry on both side’s pictorial depiction of throat cancer and a message in English, Hindi or any Indian language. “I have specified that 60 percent of the space must be devoted to a picture and 25 percent to the legend,” he said.